by Alejandro Zuniga Sacks, USA TODAY Sports

by Alejandro Zuniga Sacks, USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello insisted that the fastball that hit Ben Zobrist on Sunday had just gotten away from him, but Major League Baseball saw otherwise. On Tuesday, MLB announced that the righty will be suspended six games and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing at the Rays' second baseman.

Tensions between the Tigers and Tampa Bay had skyrocketed in the opening game of the series when third baseman Miguel Cabrera verbally objected to Rays closer Fernando Rodney's near headshot. Detroit manager Jim Leyland promised retaliation, and the umpire warned both benches after Porcello nailed Zobrist with the bases empty in the first inning the following afternoon. Now, the righty faces the consequences.

"I don't know any specifics besides the fact that I'm going to appeal it," Porcello said. "I really don't have any feelings on it. Like I said, we're going to appeal it and that's it."

Filing an appeal will allow the Tigers starter to pitch until a final decision is rendered.

Porcello showed immense promise when he won 14 games as a rookie for the Tigers in 2009, but the righty has yet to reach the high ceiling many envisioned. He matched his debut season with a 14-9 year in 2011, but hasn't finished with an earned-run average below four since that rookie campaign. This season, Porcello is 4-6 with a 5.21 ERA, a line that included a debacle in which he surrendered nine runs in two-thirds of an inning to the Angels.

This isn't the first time Porcello has been suspended for his behavior on the mound. In 2009, he and Kevin Youkilis were both tagged with five-game bans for their roles in a benches-clearing brawl. When Porcello hit the then-Boston Red Sox third baseman, Youkilis threw his helmet before the pitcher slammed him to the ground.

When healthy, the Tigers have one of baseball's elite starting rotations in Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez and Doug Fister. Sanchez spent much of June on the disabled list as Detroit dropped out of first place in the AL Central, but he will start Saturday against the Indians.